Abortive generalized spike and waves in children: a review.

Full-blown generalized spike and wave patterns in electroencephalogram lasting more than 3 seconds are diagnostically significant, suggesting one of the generalized epileptic syndromes. However, brief (less than 3 seconds) bursts of generalized spike waves activity are often difficult to evaluate the clinical correlations when such bursts are the only remarkable finding in a record which is otherwise within broad limits of normality. After reviewing the literature about the classification and genetic aspects of generalized spike and waves, we concluded that one or more of the following conditions will be the most possible to correlate with abortive generalized spike and waves: 1. as a interictal pattern of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 2. simple or complex partial seizures. 3. generalized epilepsy under effective anticonvulsant treatment. 4. withdrawal from anticonvulsant therapy. 5. natural evolution of generalized spike waves. 6. drug induced. 7. a genetic trait of relatives of generalized epilepsy. 8. normal pattern.